Destination Guide
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Destination Guide DEAR AURORA HUNTER, Welcome to Weekend a la Carte’s Aurora Nights website packed with some of the leading Northern Lights holidays to Scandinavia & Iceland. As one of the leading companies specialising in We increasingly service an international clientele trips to see the Northern Lights in the Arctic we and enjoy creating lifelong memories for you in are able to offer you once in a lifetime journeys to the region of the world we call our second home! the following regions: We are experts in special occasion travel and have helped many people celebrate a big Birthday or Anniversary under the Aurora. • The whole of Swedish Lapland • Iceland - North and South This guide is designed to give you some • Norwegian Lapland from Narvik to Tromso insight but is no replacement for speaking to an and the majestic Lofoten Islands expert. Please email me directly at [email protected] or phone Over 15 years of running northern lights holidays us on (0044) 1722 744695. we have focused on what we believe are the best destinations, not only in terms of seeing the We look forward to creating a special Northern magical Aurora Borealis, but also in the Lights holiday for you. experiences the destinations offer so we can provide you the most ‘complete’ holiday. We have Warm Regards, worked with many of our partners since day one and are proud of the service they offer our clients. Kevin Collins Managing Director www.aurora-nights.co.uk WHAT ARE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS? The bright dancing lights of the aurora are actually We have a comprehensive online guide which collisions between electrically charged particles helps you answer probably the 3 questions from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere. uppermost in your mind: The lights are seen above the magnetic poles 1. What are the Northern Lights? of the northern (Aurora Borealis) and southern hemispheres (Aurora Australis) and the main 2. When can I see the Northern Lights? factor in determining the colours of any given display is the altitude at which the solar particles 3. Where is the best place to see the collide with our atmosphere. Northern Lights? www.aurora-nights.co.uk WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS? From September to early April when it is dark and as long as there is a clear sky. Our breaks focus on getting you away from light For more in depth insight into when is the best time to pollution where possible which also helps if there is travel please refer to our Information hub on our web a low level aurora forecast. It also opens up the sky site: to the incredible amounts of stars that are visible www.aurora-nights.co.uk /northern-lights-information/ on a clear night in the Arctic. www.aurora-nights.co.uk WHICH COUNTRY SHOULD YOU VISIT ON A NORTHERN LIGHTS TRIP? It is hard to choose between the different physical than others. We have tried to destinations as Northern Lights trips are so much summarise the highlights and key points of each more than just about trying to see the Northern destination – Sweden, Iceland and Norway. Lights at night. Have a look at the table on the next page and The daytime is packed full of activities as well and decide what is important to you about your of course different activities will appeal in different Northern Lights visit, then have a look at the ways, with some destinations being more more specific details on the following pages. www.aurora-nights.co.uk ACTIVITIES SUMMARY Activities Sweden Iceland Norway Dog Sledding Yes North Iceland Yes Snowmobile Safari’s Yes Yes Yes Visit to Narvik - Site of the 2nd Yes No Yes World War Battle Aurora Sky Station Visits Yes No Yes Visit/Stay at Original IceHotel Yes No No Snow-Shoe Walk Yes North Iceland Yes Cross Country Skiing Yes No No Northern Lights Photography Yes No No Lessons Hovercraft Trip Yes No No Innuit Culture/Sami Culture and Yes No Yes Reindeer Super Jeep Adventure Tours No Yes No Blue Lagoon Visit/Stay No Yes No Ice Fishing Yes No No Ice Climbing Yes Yes No Whale Watching No Yes No Glacier hiking/Ice caves No Yes Yes Volcanoes/Geysers No Yes No Icebergs and Glaciers No Yes Yes Self-Drive Northern Lights Holidays No Yes Yes Autumn Northern Lights Holiday Yes Yes Yes City Break Extensions Yes Yes Yes Boat Adventures Yes Yes Yes www.aurora-nights.co.uk MULTI-COUNTRY JOURNEYS For those of you who want to experience it all, It would be fair to say that putting together or at least more than just one country, we have complex itineraries across different destinations, some incredible multi-country breaks under the making the most of your time and offering the Epic Journeys banner. very best experiences available, is very much our specialty. With Icelandair offering a free 7 Combine Iceland, Sweden and Norway to night stopover in Iceland on the way from create a longer Northern Lights Adventure and America to Sweden on a Northern Lights trip don’t forget that we can do city breaks at the this has become logistically much easier and beginning or end of your trip too. Stockholm, better value and Norway can easily be Scandinavia’s capital city, Reykjavik and combined with Sweden to extend even further. Tromso all compliment a Northern Lights www.aurora-nights.co.uk/northern-lights- adventure holiday in the Arctic. holidays/multi-country-aurora-journeys/ www.aurora-nights.co.uk The Discerning Traveller's Arctic Destination Sweden does everything small scale compared to its Scandinavia neighbours. Unique Hotels, small lodges and wilderness cabins are the typical accommodation choices whilst you have a myriad of the best arctic experiences to choose from. From the more traditional winter break to some select autumn northern lights holidays the contrasting scenery from coastal to Forest from Fell to River Valleys provides much to explore. www.aurora-nights.co.uk/northern-lights-holidays/sweden/ Swedish Lapland is fortunate enough to be home to one of the most famous places in the world for aurora watching. Abisko has a deserved reputation and with around 87% of our clients seeing the Northern Lights on a 4 night Northern Lights holiday here - we have yet to find somewhere better. www.aurora-nights.co.uk/northern-lights- holidays/sweden/abisko-aurora/ We specialise in multi-destination northern lights holidays in Sweden and can combine some of the Iconic locations like the amazing ICEHOTEL with the unique TREEHOTEL. www.aurora-nights.co.uk/northern-lights-holidays/sweden/ice- hotel-tree-hotel-breaks/ Finally if getting off the beaten track is your mission then take a look at our rage of classic breaks many of which have the option for private use of the accommodation. www.aurora-nights.co.uk/northern-lights- holidays/sweden/short-breaks/ www.aurora-nights.co.uk WHY IS THE ACCOMMODATION IN SWEDEN SPECIAL ? Some really unusual hotels are found in Swedish Lapland. The IceHotel and Tree Hotel really offer experiences of a lifetime whilst we offer a select choice of the best lodges and cabins. The Original ICEHOTEL is built every year from ice harvested from the Torne River. A new addition is ICEHOTEL 365 which is open all year round. Whether you visit or decide to stay and enjoy one of the individually designed art suites this is certainly one of the world's iconic hotels. There are amazing ice carvings in the art suites, an ice chapel and of course the famed Ice Bar where you can enjoy a cocktail served in an ice glass. The Tree Hotel is one of the most innovative hotels in the world. Stay in a UFO, Mirror Cube, Birds nest or Dragon Fly nestled in pine trees in a Boreal Forest! www.aurora-nights.co.uk/northern-lights- holidays/sweden/ice-hotel-tree-hotel- breaks/experience/ Abisko Mountain Lodge, run by our good friends Mina and Dick Johansson, is situated in the Northern Lights capital of Europe, Abisko. Mina will go out of her way to make you feel welcome, and you have an excellent chance of seeing the Aurora whilst staying here. On average 87% of our clients see the aurora on a 4 night stay in Abisko, and often the restaurant clears when the “Aurora” shout goes out! www.aurora-nights.co.uk/northern-lights- holidays/sweden/abisko-aurora/ We offer the traditional Máttaráhkká Northern Lights Lodge for our guests visiting Kiruna. This comfortable “home from home” lodge has only 7 rooms, roof top hot tub and the best snowmobiling right from the front door! A perfect base or stop off point on an epic multi destination break. www.aurora-nights.co.uk For those looking for something a bit quirky then including the Arctic Gourmet Cabins in your itinerary are a must. Two cabins with a hot tub and sauna are sited next to Sweden’s smallest restaurant (2 tables) where Johan the owner prepares gourmet meals. On the Eastern Side of Swedish Lapland with its scenic archipelago and spectacular forests are 3 lodges we use to house our guests. Pine Bay and Brandon Lodges. These two lodges, one with cabins and 1 set up as a small lodge are the perfect base to explore the Archipelago. Whether by boat in early autumn, or snowmobile and hovercraft in winter, a choice of wonderful exploration awaits. Run by the consummate professional Goran Widen you can add in some incredible experiences including a wilderness dinner on Ice and a night in a luxurious Yurt set on the frozen seas with flat landscapes and uninterrupted views of any northern lights display.